Improve palliative care, say MPs and peers

Many people are not receiving the palliative care they need, said MP Frank Field today at the launch of a new cross-parliamentary group.

Field is the chair of Dying well, whose members include MPs and peers from all parties.

There are “serious inequities” in the availability of palliative care in England and Wales, said Field. He described current provision as high quality but said “quantity and distribution leave something to be desired.”

Dying well wants people to be able to choose to die at home.

Last month the NHS Confederation called for palliative care services provided by social care staff to be expanded. Most terminally ill people wish to die at home but a lack of palliative care often makes this impossible, reported the confederation.

In 2004 the health select committee said too many people are dying at home “in squalor” because they are not getting the social care support they need, in a critical report on palliative care.